Jack pad



June 5, 1945. l J. VILLEPIGUE 2,377,530

JACK PAD Filed May 2, 1944 Fig 1.

` Fig s. \/0

INVENTOR. Julius G. Vlepigu@ Patented June 5, 1945 cm1-ED STATI-:s PATENT formi: l

,A m JAoKr'AD l i o Villengne,InglewootLCalii., assigner;` to North American Avation,1nc. M Applicashun@ 2,1944,seris1No.s3a,7s1 ,1r-r. 'i ioiaim'si (o1. 2544-133) f inventionV relatesv jack pads `such as `would beparticularly applicable for, use in conjunction i aircraft; and `contemplates` the provision of.r suchmembersmadeuof rubber: or similar resilient material, recessed inthe outer surface.v L, Y

An object of the invention is the provision of an ever-ready type jack pad which, when not in use, provides a ilush installation with the external surfaces of the ship, as for example, at the wing or fuselage jack-points. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved resilient means for supporting' the air plane while on the jacks. l

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the need for ttings such as are usually employed in jacking operations. i

Another object of the invention is the elimination of flush cover-pads or plugs for the jack pad fittings as generally necessitated in order to provide the required smooth exterior of the ship and to protect the threaded portions of thejack pad fittings. Y i

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement suitable for jacking an airplane which requires no installation tools or special fittings, whereby high-speed servicing is facilitated. This is particularly. important in military aircraftand is highly desirable in all servicing operations. The elimination of the need for separate parts and fittings is also particularly important in military aircraft. The insert `type,

jack pad Afittings generally used must be either carried in the ship or be available at any servicing field.4 Any separate or extra pieces create additional problems under combat conditions during which such parts may readily be lost, and being carried in the ship, they represent additional undesirable weight.

A further object of the present invention, is the provision of improved supporting means in that the resiliency of the rubber pad tends to prevent shifting of the plane while on the jacks. The rubber is suiciently flexible to'conform to f the contour of the top of the jack regardless of ing vimeriaitions vat time of assembly or overhauling the resiliency of the support achieved vthrough lthe presentarrangement is very desirable in that vibrations are absorbed and the ship generally cushioned from shocks resulting from the foregoing operations.

The invention also" comprises novel details of construction` and combinations or arrangement of parts which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention which is given'by way of illustration or supported in this manner or during various test- 55 example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts of ther several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the jack pad installed `in a wing having a portion of the upper surface broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the :lack pad While the airplane is on the jack;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the jack pad in normal position.

`In Fig. 1 is shown, by way of illustration, a portion of the wing l of an airplane `wherein the upper skin has been broken away at 2 to expose a portion of the interior construction. A cupshaped member 3 provided with suitable attaching means in the form of flanges is installed at an appropriate location to provide a suitable jacking pointfor the airplane. The member 3 is so attached as to form an integral part of the load carrying structure of the airplane, as for example, to the wing spar 4 and a transverse member 5.

A more detailed showing of the present invention is given in Fig. 2. The cup-shaped member 3 encloses a block of resilient material 6 which is herein shown in the compressed stage. A pocket 1 is formed in the resilient material over the jack post 8. The retaining cup is attached to the structure of the ship by appropriate means as for example bolting or riveting, to permit the f1tting to carry the loads imposed when the airplane is supported on the jacks.

Since the resilient material will conform to the contour of the top of the jack post, the airplane may be safely jacked even when the supports are on an uneven footing, thereby precluding the necessity of undertaking such an operation only on a level surface. y

The lower side of the cup member is open and an appropriate aperture is provided in the outer skin 9 of the airplane. As shown in Fig. 3 the resilient material, when at rest, aassumes a position providing a smooth contour to the outer surface It)A and a iiush continuation of the wing skin one form in which the invention may be em-` of the air iiow surface thereof, a jack pad comprising a socket adapted to be mounted in said member and a block of compressiblelresilient material mounted in said socket and having an outer surface adapted to form a streamlined continuation of said skin surface.

3. In combination with an aircraft Wing including a skin forming an under air flow surface thereof,y a jackpad comprising a downwardlyopening socket, and a block of compressible resilient material mounted in said socket and havf'ing an under surface forming a streamlined conbodied, it being my intention to cover in my' claims the use of any equivalent arrangement-or apparatus.

Iclaim as my invention:

1. In combination with anv aircraft member having a skin providing the majority' of an air Iflow surface thereof, ajack pad comprising a socket in said member-,and a block of compressible `resilient material vmourited'in said socket and having an outer surface forming a streamlined continuation of said skin surface.

2. For use in lcombinationv with an aircraft member having a skinA forming the maj'or'portio'n tinuation of said air fiow surface, said jack pad being positioned at a proper location in said wing to provide' a contact surface for a jack in jackingi operations upon said aircraft.

4. In combination with a structural member of t an airplane, positioned to transfer the load of the4 plane to a jack, a jack pad comprising a block of compressible resilient material having an under surface adapted tohave non-slipping engagement' with the upperend of a jack,y and a downwardly openingr socket in said member, in which said block is supported and confined.

JULIUs G. VILLEPIGUEL n 

